​Drought2014 was one of the driest years in California, leaving 82% of California in extreme drought. This resulted in Santa Cruz entering stage 3 water shortage emergency, which meant that there were many restrictions on water usage such as no watering during the day with sprinklers between 10 am to 8 pm, no car/vehicle washing, and no water waste in general.​After a rainy 2016 El Nino season, things are starting to look up. As of April 2016, only 25% of the state is under severe drought, 28% under extreme drought, and 21% under exceptional drought, but the future of sustainable water supply is still uncertain.